St. Landry democrat., 1887-05-07

she cried f)r protection from me, She
held out her arms to him. She clung to
him. His breath is coming in painful
gasps. There was alteration in the
glance she directed at him! lie gain such
a glance would have died Welln' he
stretches ont his arms and then he clasps
his head, 'because of such a glance |
have died. She has slain me-
Grant, my poor boy, do not talk so
wildly. Forget this girl; think now of
what is the best thing for you to do.'
II have thought of that-that is all ar
ranged
His tone is impatient.
"Where are yon going, darling?' she
asks family.
"Nowhere.
His manner is duh and listleS>
'Rousc yourselt," entreats She You
must go for awhile. You say You have
arranged all Tell me, then, where YOU
are going.''
"a long Journey
Long Journeys nowadays can be com
passed i'll Il very little while
That is true. Mine will Ee the short
est passage on record,' he draws his
breath sharply. "What happened to her,
when ! left>'
''She tainted. Mr.. Duran -
Keep his name out OF it. can I yo1?'
interrupts lie. violently. $50 on. She
tainted Well, what thenzn
''They had considerable difficulty in re-
covering her, | have been told. was not
there, y says Lady Nalworth nervously.
''She was naturally Il good deal upset by
the whole affair. suppose you fright
ened her.
You say hurt her
''IOu sent her with some force against
the wall. You did not mean it, hastily
-'but when one is agitatel as You We're,
one hardly knows what one is doing.
You anXiously-'' not take that
so much to heart; you did her no real
harm. You must not be uneasy
Take it to heart? I wish had killed
her" The words come with hiss
through his clinched teeth; his face is
white and distorted with passion. That
she should live, and live with him. is the
CALLING thought: that is more than can
bear. How her little white fingers fast
cned on his arm. Liar that she is, how
she deceived and ruined me! Body and
soul she has destroyed.
''Oh, not your soul, darling. There is
time-repentance.'
There is very little time now and am
lnrepentant.h
He throws up his head and points to
the window. The lamps in the room are
waning, and through the closely cur
tanned window the first Streaks of coming
morn are stealing with a persistency that
will not be denied. Day is breaking, and
with it his mothers heart. The cruel
light will tear him from her, will carry
him-whi:her.
lyon have not told me where You are
going,H she says, pressing her hand
against her heart to still its throbbing.
Il can tell no one that
What. not your mother: Grant, do
not fear, will betray you; anything you
say to me now will be sacred. Tell me
where it is you mean to go.n
Il cannot"
But why-why?"
For the simple reason that | don't
know myself" There is curious CLEAN
in his eyes that disturbs her and make.
her forget the tiippancy of his tone. 1T
is to q strange land will wend my way
before the day is very much older. A
stranger i'll strange land! My reception
will be cold one, or perchance hot
one.''
He laughs wildly. His merriment is, !
however, shortlived, breaking off almos-
as it began, and ending in Il dismal
silence.
''You are thinking of Africa says hi.
mother, trembling, she scarcely knows |
why. IF you still refuse to let me know
exactly where you are going, at least
promise you will write to me. Grant,
my dear, dear son, promise Inc that"
II will promise you anything you like,
though doubt if you would care to keep
up the correspondence. There is some
thing terrible in his manner, which has
grown frivolous in CHASTITY way, and his
face is ivid. ''She will live and pros
per, - he says inconsequently as it seems
to Lady Valworth; but she will have to
will compel her to do that!
And remember you," laying his hand
roughly upon his mothers shoulder, re
well that my last words were that
She was responsible for all''
Il win not believe these are your last
words. You will return to me, when all
this has blown over you will return, il
even for month or so. Promise me
that, too, Grant"
From where I am going no man re
turns
THAT is not true. There is no place
Oh earth from which you cannot come
back to me, if You only will.
''No plsce on earth'' He repeats her
words slowly. my place on earth will
know me- no more" He seems to wander
away from the actual meaning of her
words to the mere sound Of them. II.
have ns longer any place on earth, he
says dreamily.
s'You have place in my heart always"
;ries she, with sudden burst of weeping.
She throws her arms round him, and
,lings to him in an embrace that is full
# despair. ALAS! my one childi my
pretty baby! that it should come to this
,he means, bitterly.
"You will not forget my message to
lers''
Though he is supporting her half faint